The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-06-26
RAGING AT A FUNERAL.

The Head Chief of the Ponca Indians
Buried With Peculiar Ceremonies. u
Wa-si-ka, head chief of the Ponca Indians,
a tribe living in the territory just south of
here, died recently, and was buried with all
the pomp and ceremony known to the tribe,
says an Arkansas City correspondent of the
Kansas City Times. His body was taken on
a blanket from his tepee by his sauaw and
three children and placed in wagon drawn
by two horses, which the widow guided.
This was the Indian hearse. Behind this
followed nearly 500 bucks and squaws-the
former on horseback and the latter trotting
along on foot. All the way to the burying
ground the widow and orphans moaned I'M
ceasingly.
When the burial ground was reached the
squaws formed a circle about 100 yards in
circumference around the wagon, and out
side of this circle twelve squaws were sta
toned at intervals of few feet to keep
away evil spirits by giving vent to I'M
earthly screeches Beyond these there We're
about $50 bucks on horseback, laughing,
chatting and trading horses.
After the circle had been formed White
Buffalo, head chief of the Poncas, came for
ward and in the Ponca tongue delivered an
Grafton on the deceased AT its conclusion
the mourners, who in the meantime had kept
their seats in the wagon, picked up the four
corners of the blanket on which reposed the
corpse, and, giving it a toss, threw the body
to the ground. Then the widow went TO the
rear of the wagon and gathered up some
"culls,n or refuse lumber. which she depos-
tied by the side of her dead spouse.
During this time an Omaha Indian who
had entered the squaw circle kept filing
saw which he had in his hands, and the
mourners continued their mourning. As
the Omaha brave had finished filing his saw
he began making a receptacle for the re-
mains out of the culls. This receptacle was
in the form of chicken coop, being eight
feet long and five feet wide and about five
feet high, securely fastened to the ground by
posts Into this the body, covered with the
blanket and other earthly possessions of the
deceased, was laid.
A foot race was then announced by the
bucks on the outside of the circle. -Four al
most naked indians were the participants.
Then followed a two-nile horse race, in
which there were eighteen participants, all
of whom had painted their faces i'll hid
eous manner. Riding off the required dis
lance, the chief then signaled for the start
with a looking glass. AT full speed came
the eighteen reckless red riders. As they
neared the circle the entire body of 400
Indians set up a terrific howl, and as the
horses came in past them the excitement
was intense. During the races the body was
entirely disrobed. There were four prizes
in each event-a jacket, pipe and tobacco
bag, and two blankets The winner of the
first prize was given his choice of prizes, the
second second choice, the third third, and
the fourth fourth.
After the horse race the attention of the
assemblage was once more given to the dead
chief The 'chicken-coop tomb" having
been constructed the body Of Wa-si-ka was
thrown inside and the ends were closed up
so as to prevent any animal from entering
and carrying off the body. A horse and two
calves, the property of the deceased, We're
also laid in the tomb in order that he might
enjoy them in the happy hunting ground.
This ended the ceremony.